Method for delivering music content to a smart phone

ABSTRACT

A method of distributing media content using mobile communication devices including providing media access cards which promote selected media content to users of such devices whereby a user may access a web server associated with the media access cards and download application software enabling access to selected media content via a mobile device, the media access cards including a machine readable identification number code that identifies media content associated with the card whereby the application software facilitates reading and transmitting the code to a web server via the mobile device, receiving the identification number with the web server and using the identification number to locate a table value in a database wherein a plurality of media access cards identification numbers are associated with a media content table value, using the table value to identify media codes associated with the selected content server which transmits media to the mobile device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/141,146, filed Apr. 28, 2016, entitled METHOD FOR DELIVERING MUSICCONTENT TO A SMART PHONE, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,142,383, issued on Nov.27, 2018, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/635,968, filed Mar. 2, 2015, entitled METHOD FOR DELIVERINGMUSIC CONTENT TO A SMART PHONE, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,477,954 on Oct. 25,2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/767,605, filed on Feb. 14, 2013, entitled METHOD FOR DELIVERING MUSICCONTENT TO A SMART PHONE, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,971,791, issued Mar. 3,2015, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/599,517, filed Feb. 16, 2012, entitled METHOD FOR DELIVERING MUSICCONTENT TO A SMART PHONE, the specifications of which are incorporatedherein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following disclosure relates to a method and system for providing auser of a mobile communications device with selected media content.

BACKGROUND

Trading cards, such as baseball cards, have been popular forgenerations. Traditionally, trading cards have been used to identifysports figures; baseball cards are especially well-known. Other suchcards have often featured cartoons, comic book characters, TV charactersand similar well known characters or similar subject matter. As such,trading cards present a potential means for performing artists,typically musicians, to promote their works.

Smart phones, e.g., mobile communications devices built on a mobileoperating system, have become ubiquitous. Such devices include computingcapability and connectivity, many with high-resolution touch screens andweb browsers. Smart phones utilize Wi-Fi and broadband carriers for highspeed data access and transmission. Recently, the rapid development ofmobile applications, application programs for smart phones and advancedapplication programming interfaces for running third party applicationshave driven the adoption and use of smart phones. Such mobilecommunication devices, used with a form of trading cards, are thesubject of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

A method of distributing media content using mobile communicationdevices includes providing media access cards to users of the mobilecommunication devices. The cards may be sold, distributed as promotionalitems or otherwise distributed. The cards promote selected media contentsuch that a user may access a website associate with the media accesscards with the user's mobile communication device and downloadapplication software enabling the user to access the selected mediacontent. The card includes machine-readable code corresponding to anidentification number identifying media content associated with thecard. The application software facilitates reading the machine readablecode with the mobile user device and transmitting the code to a webserver with the mobile user device. The web server uses theidentification number to locate a table value in a database whereinidentification numbers from a plurality of media access cards are eachassociated with a table value corresponding to media content associatedwith the access cards. The table value is then used to identify a mediacode associated with the selected media content in a content server. Themedia code may then be sent to the mobile communications device whichmay then transmit the media code to the content server. After receivingthe media code, content server transmits the selected media content tothe mobile communication device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingDrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a representation of a promotional card used in connection witha method of providing users media content as disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a system for providing media content to usersaccording to the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing media contentto users having mobile user devices as disclosed herein;

FIG. 3A is a flow chart illustrating an alternate method of providingmedia content to users having mobile user devices as disclosed herein;

FIG. 4 illustrates a display of a mobile user device wherein advertisingcontent is presented to the user of the device;

FIG. 5 represents a database for use in selecting user appropriateadvertising to be presented to the user of a mobile user device; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a system and method forproviding media content to users according to the disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of an enciphered digital access carddisplayed on a webpage;

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a deciphered digital access carddisplayed on the webpage;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart depicting one embodiment of an enciphereddigital access card deciphering process;

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a split-screen streaming videosystem; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a split-screenstreaming process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are usedherein to designate like elements throughout, the various views andembodiments of a method for delivering music content to a smart phoneare illustrated and described, and other possible embodiments aredescribed. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in someinstances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in placesfor illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate the many possible applications and variations based on thefollowing examples of possible embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a media access card for use in connection with amethod of distributing music, music videos, electronic games or similarmedia content. Access cards 100 may be similar in size and appearance tothe well-known baseball cards. As illustrated, each promotional oraccess card 100 may include an illustration or photograph 102 of arecording artist or another image associated with the particular mediacontent being promoted. Card 100 also includes a machine readable code104 associated with the song, video or other piece of media contentbeing promoted. In one embodiment, machine readable code 104 may be abarcode, a QR code, an alphanumeric code or similar code. Code 104 isassociated with the particular media content being promoted with card100.

In one embodiment, a URL 106 is printed or reproduced on card 100 toenable a user to access a webpage to download application softwareenabling the user to access the media content being promoted. URL 106may be in the form of a machine readable code such as a barcode or QRcode such that the URL may be scanned. Cards 100 may be distributed inpackages for sale at retail, or included as a promotion, for example, incereal boxes or with other goods or services typically purchased byconsumers. If distributed in packages, cards 100 may be grouped by anartist, a particular type of music or video or on the basis of othercontent-related criteria. In some variations, a consumer may be chargeda fee for cards 100.

The machine readable code 104 of cards 100, for example, a QR code, mayinclude an image or indicia 110 positioned within or embedded in thecode. The image may be used in connection with a program e.g., theapplication software, which identifies image 110 and/or a portion 112 ofthe QR code within code 104. As set forth in greater detail below, image110 may serve as a means of further identifying a recording artist, aprovider of media content, and/or specific media content that may beaccessed using the card. As will be appreciated, image or indicia 110serves as a pointer or locator for portion 112 of code 104 and may bepositioned at different locations on card 100.

FIG. 2 is a schematic including a system for providing media content tousers of a mobile user device 200. Wireless user device 200 may be acell phone, a PDA, a tablet or similar device. User device 200 isconfigured with the software and hardware required to access a publicnetwork such as the Internet such that the device may be utilized toaccess the media content promoted with promotional card 100. User device200 will typically include a display 202, a processor 204, a GPS locatorchip or chipset 206 and a camera 208. User device 200 also includes astorage device 210 for data storage and retrieval. User device 200 willhave an electronic serial number (ESN) and/or a mobile identificationnumber (MIN) associated therewith such that the user device may beidentified. User device 200 is configured to access a network such asthe Internet 213 via a telecom service provider 214. A user may therebyaccess a first web server 220 by entering or scanning the URL 106 fromcard 100 using device 200. As set forth in detail below, an applicationprogram or software 270, associated with cards 100, along with one ormore databases 272 may be stored on user device 200.

Web server 220 includes a processor 222 and a communications interface224 that enables the server to communicate with user device 200 via theInternet 213 and telecom service provider 214. First web server 220 alsoincludes a data storage device 226 for storing one or more relationaldatabases or look-up tables 228. Database 228 includes a plurality ofunique identifiers or IDs 230, each encoded as all or a portion 112 ofcode 104 on promotional card 100 promoting particular media content. Asset forth in detail below, identifiers 230 enable mobile user device 200to access content providers 250.

A database of user information may be stored on web server 220. Thedatabase may include user profiles including names, addresses,birthdates, media content preferences, marital status and similarinformation that may be useful for marketing and demographic purposes.The ESN or MIN of the user's device 200 may be linked in the database tothe profile of the user for identification purposes. A user profile mayalso include credit or debit card information to enable a user to payfor selected media content. The database or another database residenton, or in communication with server 220 may also include a plurality of“tokens” or identifiers, each associated with individual copies of theapplication software downloaded to mobile user devices 200.

Each content provider 250 includes a processor 252, a communicationsinterface 254 and a data storage device. A database 258 stored on thedata storage device includes a plurality of different pieces of mediacontent 241 such as songs and/or video clips. Sponsor information may beassociated with different pieces of media content, such that sponsorpromotional material may appear along with the sponsored media contentwhen played or displayed with user device 200. In this regard, webserver 220 and/or content provider server 250 may communicate with oneor more sponsor or advertising entity servers 260 in order to associatepromotional materials with different pieces of media content.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing media contentsuch as songs and videos to a user having a mobile user device 200. Theprocess begins at step 300 where cards 100 are distributed to users. Atstep 302, a user enters or scans the URL for server 220 and is providedwith application software 270 at step 304 that enables the user toaccess selected media content. Application software 270 may becompatible with one or more operating systems used by different mobiledevices 200. The application software 270 may be adapted to functionwith mobile devices 200 having different operating systems. Aspreviously noted, a user may input or scan URL 106 on card 100 to accessweb server 220 to download application software 270.

After the user has downloaded application software 270, the software isstored on device 200 at step 306 and the user may then use card 100 toaccess selected media content as set forth below. In one embodiment, atoken or authentication code may be downloaded with the applicationsoftware. The token or authentication code may be unique for eachdownload of the application software. The user may be charged a fee forthe application software or the application software may be provided tothe user free of charge. A database 272 may be downloaded to device 200with the application software.

After the user has downloaded the application software to device 200 andacquired promotional card 100, he or she may capture an image of cardcode 104 at step 308 from the card using camera 208 of the user device.In different variations, code 104 may be a QR code, a barcode, analphanumeric code or a similar code. Code 104 may incorporate an image110 that further serves to facilitate identification of relevant partsof code 104. The application software may include instructions foridentifying image 110 and differentiating the image and/or a portion 112of machine readable code 104 from the remainder of the code. One or morefeatures of image 110 may be used for identifying relevant portions ofcode 104. For example, in one embodiment, lines or similar features ofimage 110 may be used by the application software to identify certainportions 112 of code 104 that contain the ID code 230 associated withparticular media content.

As illustrated, portion 112 is embedded in a larger field 104 of machinereadable code along with image or indicia 110. Image 110 is recognizedby application software 270 as a pointer or locator that identifies theportion 112 of code 104 corresponding to ID 230. The portion 112 of code104 containing ID 230 may then be read and decoded with applicationsoftware 270 and transmitted to web server 220 along with the token orauthentication code associated with the application software resident onuser device 200. Alternatively, if code 104 or portion 112 of code 104is not decoded by the application software, an image of code 104 orportion 112 may be transmitted to server 220, for example as an imagefile.

In the case where the application software has not been loaded onto orprogrammed into mobile user device 200 and machine readable code 104 isscanned and decoded with another program or device, machine readablecode 104 may be decoded as a URL for a website promoting cards 100 oranother product or service. Similarly, if image 110 is not recognizedwith the application software when card 100 is scanned, machine readablecode may be a URL for a website promoting cards 100 or another productor service. Alternatively, the application software may simply directmobile user device 200 to display a “code not recognized” or “error”message to the user.

At step 310, the portion 112 of card code 104 including ID 230 isidentified and then decoded with application software 270 at step 312.At step 314 ID code 230 is transmitted along with the token associatedthe application software from mobile user device 200 to server 220 viatelecom service provider 214. Database 228 is then queried at step 316to determine a table value 233. Table value 233 may be in the form of apointer or IP address that identifies one or more media codes 235associated with card 100 as indicated by arrow 237. Media codes 235 maybe included in database 228 or in a separate database 231 on the same ora separate server 239. Media codes 235 serve to media content 241 storedon media server 250.

After media code 235 has been determined at step 318, the media code isthen transmitted back to mobile user device 200 at step 320. A code oraddress pointing to sponsor promotional material resident on the same ora different server 260 may also be transmitted with media code 235 touser device 200. Mobile device 200 may query a database 272 to determinean IP address or URL 232 of a content provider 250 associated with mediacode 235 if the address of the media server is not been transmitted withthe media code. Database 272 may be resident on mobile device 200,stored on server 220, or stored on a second server.

Address 232 identifies a content provider 250 that may be accessed toprovide the selected media content. After the user device 200 isconnected to content provider 250 at step 324, at step 326 the selectedmedia content is identified using media code 235 and transmitted tomobile user device 200 at step 328. The media content may be a musicvideo, song, portion of a song, a video clip (trailer) for a movie orsimilar presentation or a portion or introduction to a video game. Inone embodiment, the entire media content, i.e., a song, music video,video clip etc. is transmitted to user device. In another embodiment, aportion of the media content may be transmitted and presented to theuser in a manner so as to enable the user to determine if he or shewishes to purchases the entire media content, for example a song orsongs, a movie or an electronic game. In different variations, mobiledevice 200 also transmits a message to server 220 indicating that theselected media content has been transmitted to the device. Sponsorpromotional material may be simultaneously transmitted to mobile device200 from server 220 or server 250, depending upon where the sponsorpromotional material is stored.

At step 330, the selected media content, along with sponsor promotionalmaterial, is played and/or displayed on mobile user device 200. Indifferent variations, the selected media content transmitted to mobileuser device 200 may be a music video, movie trailer (e.g., video clip),a song or portion of a song, a segment of an electronic game or similarcontent. FIG. 4 illustrates a display 202 of a mobile user devicewherein media content and/or advertising content is presented to theuser of mobile user device 200. As a security measure, media code orcodes 235 are deleted from mobile user device 200 at step 331 aftertransmission of the selected media content or when application software270 is closed on the device and the process ends at step 333.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart illustrating an alternate method wherein mediacontent is offered for sale. In this embodiment, only a portion of theselected media content is transmitted and played with user device 200 atstep 330 to enable a user to determine whether he or she wishes topurchase the entire selected media content for example, an album ofsongs, a movie or an electronic game. At step 332, the user may beprompted to purchase the entire media content, this enables a user todetermine whether he or she wishes to purchase the entire selected mediacontent for example, an album of songs, a movie or an electronic game.The prompt to purchase the selected media content may also provide theuser with an opportunity to view or play different songs, videos, games,etc., giving the user a choice of media content from which he or she mayselect.

At step 324, the user determines whether he or she wishes to purchasethe selected media content. If the user elects not to purchase the mediacontent, the process ends at step 338. If the user decides to purchasethe media content, mobile user device 200 transmits a message to server220 indicating that the media content has been purchased. The user'saccount is accessed at step 340 and the account is debited for thepurchase price of the media content at step 342. If the user does nothave an account, the user may establish an account at this point. Userprofile information stored on server 220 may be accessed to establish anaccount and/or the user may enter the information required to establishan account for example, user's name, address, birth date and a creditcard or debit card number that the content provider may use to chargethe purchase price of the media content provided to the user.

Alternatively, the user may enter a debit or credit card number to payfor the selected content without establishing an account with thecontent provider. At step 344, the media content provider may becredited by the operator of web server 220 a fixed fee or a percentageof the purchase price of the media content purchased by the user. Themedia code or codes 235 corresponding to the purchased media content aretransmitted to mobile user device 200 at step 346, after which thepurchased media content may be transmitted to the user at step 348 asdescribed above. Media codes or codes 235 are then deleted from userdevice 200 at step 350 and the process ends at step 352.

Server 220 and or content server 250 may communicate with one or moresponsor or advertising entities via server 260 (FIG. 2). Referring nowto FIGS. 4 and 5, sponsoring entities 260 may provide promotionalcontent 402 that may be presented on display 202 of user device 200 inconnection with media content played or displayed on mobile user device200. Since mobile user device 200 is provided with GPS capability, thelocation of the device may be transmitted to web server 220, sponsorserver 260 and/or content server 250 such that location specificadvertising content may be selected for display on the user device. Forexample, if user device 200 is in a shopping mall, advertising for shopsor stores in the mall may be selected for presentation to the user ofthe device.

Referring specifically to FIG. 5, a database 500 may be utilized todetermine specific promotional content to be displayed to a user.Database 500 may include the ID 230 or other code associated with theparticular media content, one or more URLs 504 associated with IDs 230and with different user registrations 502. Database 500 may be residenton sponsor server 260, web server 220 or content provider sever 250. Forexample, a user may be unregistered, registered as a standard user,registered as a family user or registered as an adult user. DifferentURLs 504 may be associated with the different categories of users andused to access advertising content determined to be appropriate for theparticular category of user. For example, different advertising contentmay be provided to a user registered as a family user versus a userregistered as an adult user. Typically, advertising entities 260 paycontent provider 250 a fee for displaying or providing advertisingcontent 402 along with the user's selected media content. In differentvariations, advertising or sponsoring entities 260 may pay contentprovider 250 a fee for each time that the advertising content istransmitted to a mobile user device 200.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a method of providing media content to the userof a mobile device 200 such as a cell phone or PDA is further described.The user of the device scans or photographs a card 100 as previouslydescribed. Application software 270 identifies image 110 and portion 112of code 104. After application software 270 decodes portion 112 of code104 it transmits ID 230 along with the token associated with the userdevice to web server 220 where the authenticity of application software270 is verified using the token and a table value 233 is determinedusing ID 230. More than one table value or code 233 may be associatedwith a given ID 230. For example, multiple pieces of media content 241may be associated with ID 230 or a table value may be used to identify asponsor or sponsor promotional material to be presented with aparticular item of media content. In another variation a table value maybe used to identify a particular promotion of a media item.

Table value or values 233 are used in conjunction with database 231 toidentify media codes 235 associated with specific media items. Server239 uses a table value 233 as a pointer for identifying a particularmedia code 235 associated with a particular media item in database 231.After media code 235 has been identified, it is transmitted back to userdevice 200. Media code 235 may be transmitted directly to user device200 from server 239 or may be transmitted through web server 220. In anembodiment where database 231 is resident on web server 220, it isreturned directly to user device 200.

In one embodiment, mobile device 200 accesses a database 272 resident onthe device as indicated to determine an address or URL 232 of a contentserver 250 associated with ID 230. In different variations, address 232of content server 250 may be resident on web server 220, in which caseit is transmitted to user device 200 along with media code 235. Afteridentifying the address or URL the content provider 250 associated withID 230, mobile device 200 transmits a message to content provider 250including media code 235. The message transmitted to content provider250 may also include additional information such as the token associatedwith the user device, codes identifying sponsor promotional material andthe location of such materials on server 260 or multiple media codes235. Mobile device 200 may simultaneously transmit a message to sponsorserver 260 identifying the media content to be played or displayed.After identifying the desired media content, content server 250transmits the identified media content to mobile device 200 forlistening and/or viewing. Sponsor promotional material may besimultaneously transmitted to mobile device 200 for display with theselected media content. As previously noted, the media content may bemusic, video, an electronic game or other content.

In one variation, an artist or media provider may elect to promote theirmedia content with special features, such as a live impromptuperformance, video clips, interviews and similar features. In theseinstances, the artist or performer may produce such a feature and uploadthe feature to content server 250 with an identifier or promotional code251. Promotional code 251 may be pushed from content server 250 to webserver 220 and associated with ID 230 and associated with a table valuefor the ID. Web server 220 then push the promotional code along with ID230 to mobile user device 200 when application software 270 is startedor initiated on the mobile device. The ID 230 and promotional code 251may be stored in a database 280 resident on mobile user device 200. Whena card 100 having code 230 associated with a promotional code 251 isscanned, application software 270 displays or otherwise informs the userof mobile user device 200 of the special feature. The user may then begiven the option of accessing and playing the special feature.

The foregoing method provides a content provider with a means ofpromoting and distributing media content. The content is promoted bymeans of cards 100 (FIG. 1) which may be given or sold to potentialconsumers. Server 220 and application software 270 enable a consumer toutilize and select from different media content promoted with cards 100using a mobile communications device. The provider of cards 100 and theoperator of server 220 may be compensated for each time a consumeraccesses media content available through content provider 250 and/oreach time a consumer chooses to purchase and download available mediacontent. Content provider 250 and the server operator may realizeadditional revenue from sponsors and advertisers by presentingpromotional content to a user of mobile user device 200 along withselected media content.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated one embodiment of anenciphered digital access card 700 displayed on a webpage 702. Asillustrated, each digital access card 700 may include the illustrationor photograph 102 of a recording artist or another image associated withthe particular media content being promoted. The digital access card 700also includes enciphered machine readable code 704 associated with thesong, video or other piece of media content being promoted. Theenciphered machine readable code 704 would appear scrambled to anyoneviewing the digital access card 700, in order to prevent someone fromscanning the enciphered machine readable code 704 or otherwise using itin any way. The visual effect of scrambling the image may vary,depending on preference. The pixels may be simply rearranged, a blurringeffect may be added to the image, or other means of distorting the imagemay be used. In one embodiment, the enciphered machine readable code 704may be a barcode, a QR code, an alphanumeric code or similar code. Theenciphered machine readable code 704 is associated with the particularmedia content being promoted with the digital access card 700.

In some embodiments, the digital access card 700 may also include anenciphered URL 706 to enable a user to access a webpage to downloadapplication software enabling the user to access the media content beingpromoted. The enciphered URL 706 may be in the form of a machinereadable code such as a barcode or QR code such that the URL may bescanned. The enciphered URL 706 would appear scrambled to anyone viewingthe digital access card 700, in order to prevent someone from scanningthe enciphered URL 706 or otherwise using it in any way. In someembodiments, a user may be charged a fee in order to view a decipheredversion of the digital access card 700, while in other embodimentsaccess may be granted as part of a promotional campaign or similarcircumstances.

The webpage 702 may also include, in addition to the digital access card700, a description 708 of the content to which the digital access card700 grants access. The description 708 may also contain otherinformation, such as how to scan or otherwise use a card, links to othercards or content, legal information, or other information. The webpage702 may also include an option 710 to buy the card. Selecting the option710 would initiate a payment process to allow a user to purchase accessto the card. In other embodiments, the option 710 would allow a user toaccess the card based on a promotional campaign. Once the option 710 isselected, the user may then fulfill the required payment or follow otherinstructions to gain access to the card.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated one embodiment of adeciphered digital access card 100 displayed on the webpage 702. Theaccess card 100 would have been deciphered from the enciphered digitalaccess card 700. After a user completed the payment process, they wouldbe directed back to webpage 702, where the user would initially againview the enciphered digital access card 700. An animation would thenplay to allow the user to see the enciphered digital access card 700deciphered before their eyes. This animation may rearrange the pixels ofthe image of the enciphered digital access card 700 to again display theimage as access card 100. The animation may play from 10-30 frames persecond (FPS) in order to allow the user to see the effect. In otherembodiments, the user may simply see the deciphered access card 100without an animation being played. Additionally, instead of option 710still being listed, the webpage may update to instead include anindicator 810 that the card has already been purchased by the user.

The machine readable code 104 of card 100, for example, a QR code, mayinclude an image or indicia 110 positioned within or embedded in thecode. The image may be used in connection with a program e.g., theapplication software, which identifies image 110 and/or a portion 112 ofthe QR code within code 104. As set forth herein, image 110 may serve asa means of further identifying a recording artist, a provider of mediacontent, and/or specific media content that may be accessed using thecard. As will be appreciated, image or indicia 110 serves as a pointeror locator for portion 112 of code 104 and may be positioned atdifferent locations on card 100. It will be appreciated that access card100 may be scanned in the same manner whether it is a physical card or adigital card. If a digital card, the user would simply use their mobiledevice to scan the image displayed on a screen where the webpage 702 isdisplayed.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a flowchart depicting oneembodiment of an enciphered digital access card deciphering process 900.The process 900 begins at step 902 where a user navigates to a websitecontaining the digital access, the digital access card having certaincontent enciphered or scrambled. At step 904, the user selects an optionto buy access to media content associated with the digital access card.At step 906, it is determined whether the user has completed the paymentprocess. If the user did not complete the payment process, the process900 ends at step 908. If the user did complete the payment process, theprocess 900 moves to step 910, where a unique code is generated by acode generator. The unique code generated may be a random number or asequential number, with each number generated being incremented from theprevious number generated. The code may also be appended to anidentification number associated with the user, in order to provide fora unique code. For example, if the code generator produces a number, theuniqueness of the code would be assured by appending the number to theuser's identification number in a UID+CODE format. For instance, if theuser ID is 12345 and the generated code is 30002, the unique code may be1234530002. The unique code is used in a similar manner as the ID 230.In some embodiments, once the card is scanned, the unique code may beremoved from the database to disable anyone else from also scanning thesame, already-purchased, card.

The process then moves to step 912, where the enciphered content on thedigital access card is deciphered. As described herein, after the usercompleted the payment process, they would be directed back to a webpagewhere the user would initially again view the enciphered digital accesscard. An animation would then play to allow the user to see theenciphered digital access card deciphered before their eyes. Thisanimation may rearrange the pixels of the image of the enciphereddigital access card to again display the image as access card. Theanimation may play from 10-30 FPS in order to allow the user to see theeffect. In other embodiments, the user may simply see the decipheredaccess card without an animation being played.

The process 900 then moves to step 914, where the user scans thedeciphered content using the user's mobile device, in order to gainaccess to the content associated with the purchased digital card. Itwill be understood that this process would be substantially the same ifthe card was being offered as a promotional item, wherein the user mayenter a promotional code or similar action rather than going through apayment process. The process 900 then ends at step 916. After theconclusion of process 900, the user may access the digital media contenteither through a browser or via an application on the user's mobiledevice. The digital media content may include music, videos, games, orother content that can be updated and streamed to the user. Forinstance, an artist may release a new single after the user has alreadyscanned a card associated with the artist. The user's application maythen receive an update that includes the new single, without the userneeding to make an additional purchase.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is illustrated one embodiment of asplit-screen streaming video system 1000. In some embodiments of thepresent application, there may be functionality that allows for artistsor others involved with the process of creating the digital mediacontent to interact with the user. For example, the application mayallow for a music artist to stream a live recording studio session toall users who have purchased access to the digital media content. Themusic artist may even single out a user to speak to during the session,with the application allowing for the video stream to switch tostreaming the user, if desired, or to stream a video of both the userand the artist in a split-screen screen configuration.

The system 1000 includes an artist device 1002, a selected user device1004, and a plurality of user devices 1006 capable of connecting over anetwork such as the Internet 213. It will be understood by one skilledin the art that certain structures such as a media server for passingstreaming content segments may be disposed on the network to provide amiddle-man for connections between the artist device 1002, the selecteduser device 1004, and the plurality of user devices 1006. When an artiststreams a video to user from the artist device 1002 to the plurality ofuser devices 1006, the plurality of user devices 1006 displays a videoor image 1008 of the artist. During a streaming session, the artist maydecide to select a user to partner with during the streaming session, inorder to single out the user. This may be done as a marketing tactic totreat a user who has paid to access media content, such as paying for ascannable card, and to create goodwill among an artist's fans. Theselected user may be selected by looking up users in a database who havepurchased access to the artist's content. This may be done randomly as adrawing or the selected user may be selected based on other criteria.Once the artist has selected a user to interact with, the selected usermay be given the chance to accept an invitation to join in the videostream with the artist. Once the invitation is accepted, a video streamof the selected user is streamed from the selected user device 1004 tothe artist device 1002, while the selected user device 1004 would stilldisplay the video or image 1008 of the artist. Thus, the artist device1002 would display a video or image 1010 of the selected user.

Additionally, a video stream of the selected user would be streamed fromthe selected user device 1004 to the plurality of user devices 1006. Inorder to facilitate seeing both the artist stream and the selected userstream, the display 202 of the plurality of user devices 1006 maypresent both the artist stream and the selected user stream in asplit-screen configuration, with the video or image 1010 of the selecteduser appearing alongside the video or image 1008 of the artist. Such asplit-screen configuration could be side-by-side, with the video orimage 1008 of the artist appearing to the left or right of the video orimage 1010 of the selected user. The split-screen configuration couldalso be presented with the video or image 1008 of the artist above orbelow the video or image 1010 of the selected user. It will beunderstood that other configurations may be used as well. It will alsobe understood that the selected user device 1004 may also present bothvideos in a split-screen configuration as well, instead of only theartist's stream. Once the artist decides to end the interaction with theselected user, the plurality of user devices 1006 may revert back toshowing only the artist's video stream within a single window.

Referring now to FIG. 11, there is illustrated a flowchart of oneembodiment of a split-screen streaming process 1100. The process 1100beings at step 1102 where an artist begins streaming video to users.Users may be notified that the artist has begun streaming, such asreceiving a notification from a proprietary application installed on theusers' mobile devices, via email, via text message, or other means ofnotification. Users may then launch an application or navigate to awebpage to view the video stream. The video stream may only beaccessible by those users who have purchased access to the artist'scontent. At step 1104, the artist selects a user watching the videostream to initiate a conversation with that user. At step 1106, it isdetermined whether the user accepts the invitation to participate in theconversation. If the user does not accept, the process moves back tostep 1104 where the artist can select another user to initiate aconversation with.

If the user accepts the invitation, the process moves to step 1108,where a video stream of the invited user is streamed to the artist'smobile device. At step, 1110, the video stream of the user is alsostreamed to the other users watching the live stream, with both thestream of the artist and the stream of the invited user being presentedsimultaneously in a split-screen configuration, as described above withrespect to FIG. 10. At this stage in the process 1100, the invited userand the artist can communicate with one another, while the other userscan view the exchange. At step 1112 the artist terminates the streamingsession, resulting in the end of the process 1100 at step 1114.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure that the method and system disclosed herein provides ameans of delivering music and other media content to a smart phone orsimilar mobile user device. It should be understood that the drawingsand detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting tothe particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, includedare any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions,alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scopehereof.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure that this method for delivering music content to a smartphone provides a method of delivering music content to a smart phoneprovides a convenient means for users to access media content as well asproviding the artists and producers a means of distributing such mediacontent. It should be understood that the drawings and detaileddescription herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than arestrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to theparticular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, included areany further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions,alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scopehereof, as defined by the following claims. Thus, it is intended thatthe following claims be interpreted to embrace all such furthermodifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives,design choices, and embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of distributing media content usingmobile communication devices, comprising: providing digital media accesscards, the digital media access cards promoting selected media contentand containing enciphered information; allowing a user of a mobilecommunication device to be granted access to a digital media accesscard; generating an identification number, the identification numberassociated with the selected media content; deciphering the encipheredinformation to create deciphered information, the deciphered informationallowing the user to access a web server associated with the digitalmedia access cards with the user's mobile communication device anddownload application software enabling the user to access the selectedmedia content with the user's mobile communication device, thedeciphered information further including machine-readable codecorresponding to the identification number, whereby the applicationsoftware facilitates reading the machine readable code with the mobilecommunication device and transmitting the code to the web server withthe mobile communication device; receiving the identification numberwith the web server and using the identification number to locate atable value in a database wherein identification numbers from aplurality of media access cards are each associated with a table valuecorresponding to media content associated with the access cards; andusing the table value to identify a media code associated with theselected media content in a content server whereupon the media code istransmitted to the mobile communications device whereby the mobilecommunication device may transmit the media code to the content server,the content server transmitting the selected media content to the mobilecommunication device upon receiving the media code from the mobilecommunication device, wherein the machine readable code corresponding tothe identification number is embedded in a larger field of machinereadable code, the card including an indicia recognizable by theapplication software, the indicia indicating the location of the machinereadable code corresponding to the identification code within the largerfield of machine readable code.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein themedia access cards incorporate a web address for the website.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein sponsor promotional material is transmittedto the mobile communication device simultaneously with the selectedmedia content.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sponsor promotionalmaterial is resident on a sponsor server and wherein one of the tablevalue or media code is used to identify sponsor promotional material tobe transmitted to the mobile communication device with the selectedmedia content.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected mediacontent includes streaming video content.
 6. The method of claim 5,further comprising the steps of: transmitting a first video stream to aplurality of users of mobile communication devices; selecting one of theplurality of users to invite the one of the plurality of users toparticipate in the video stream; and transmitting a second video stream,the second video stream being of the one of the plurality of users, tothe plurality of users other than the one of the plurality of users. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the first video stream and the secondvideo stream are presented in a split-screen configuration on a displayof the mobile communication devices of the plurality of users.
 8. Amethod of distributing media content using mobile communication devices,comprising: providing enciphered information; generating anidentification number, the identification number associated withselected media content; deciphering the enciphered information to createdeciphered information, the deciphered information allowing a user of amobile communication device to access a web server with the user'smobile communication device and download application software enablingthe user to access the selected media content with the user's mobilecommunication device, the deciphered information further includingmachine-readable code corresponding to the identification number,whereby the application software facilitates reading the machinereadable code with the mobile communication device and transmitting thecode to the web server with the mobile communication device; receivingthe identification number with the web server and using theidentification number to locate a table value in a database havingidentification numbers each associated with a table value correspondingto media content; and using the table value to identify a media codeassociated with the selected media content in a content server whereuponthe media code is transmitted to the mobile communications devicewhereby the mobile communication device may transmit the media code tothe content server, the content server transmitting the selected mediacontent to the mobile communication device upon receiving the media codefrom the mobile communication device, wherein the machine readable codecorresponding to the identification number is embedded in a larger fieldof machine readable code, and further providing an indicia recognizableby the application software, the indicia indicating the location of themachine readable code corresponding to the identification code withinthe larger field of machine readable code.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein sponsor promotional material is transmitted to the mobilecommunication device simultaneously with the selected media content. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein the sponsor promotional material isresident on a sponsor server and wherein one of the table value or mediacode is used to identify sponsor promotional material to be transmittedto the mobile communication device with the selected media content. 11.The method of claim 8, wherein the selected media content includesstreaming video content.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprisingthe steps of: transmitting a first video stream to a plurality of usersof mobile communication devices; selecting one of the plurality of usersto invite the one of the plurality of users to participate in the videostream; and transmitting a second video stream, the second video streambeing of the one of the plurality of users, to the plurality of usersother than the one of the plurality of users.
 13. The method of claim12, wherein the first video stream and the second video stream arepresented in a split-screen configuration on a display of the mobilecommunication devices of the plurality of users.